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Korea: WXII 12 Remembers Bob Sloan

All this month, WXII 12 News is paying tribute to our veterans of the Korean War. Cameron Kent profiles the like of one man who put away his college textbooks and picked up an army manual.

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Updated: 6:01 PM EDT Jul 17, 2013

Korea: WXII 12 Remembers Bob Sloan

All this month, WXII 12 News is paying tribute to our veterans of the Korean War. Cameron Kent profiles the like of one man who put away his college textbooks and picked up an army manual.

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Updated: 6:01 PM EDT Jul 17, 2013

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WEBVTT ALL THIS MONTH, WXII-12 NEWS IS PAYINGTRIBUTE TO OURVETERANS OF THEKOREAN WAR... WHENTHE WAR BROKE OUT,IT DISRUPTED THELIVES OF A LOT OFYOUNG MEN IN NORTHCAROLINA. THE MANYOU'RE ABOUT TOMEETPUT AWAY HISCOLLEGE TEXTBOOKSAND PICKED UP ANARMY MANUAL.BOB SLOAN SUMS UPHIS WAR EXPERIENCEWITH ONE WORD...SURVIVAL---SLOAN WAS A COLLEGESTUDENT IN CHAPELHILL WHEN WAR BROKEOUT ON THE KOREANPENINSULA.. ANDCHANGED HIS LIFE. HEWENT INTO ARMY 1951.DRAFTED...INDUCTED...ALONG WITHEVERYBODY ELSESLOAN REMEMBERSBATTLING THE BITTERCOLD, AND ARELENTLESS ENEMYTHAT CONSTANTLYLOBBED MORTAR FIRETO KEEP THEAMERICAN TROOPS ONEDGE.WHAT THEY'D TRY TODO IS SUCK YOU INTOFIRING DOWN THERE,NOT KNOWING-----KENT; JUST TO GIVEAWAY YOUR POSITION...THAT'S RIGHT... IT'SJUST LIKE RAINHE SAYS HE HAD TOLEARN TO IMPROVISE...AS A BOY HE'D DONE ALOT OF CAMPING IN THEMOUNTAINS OFWESTERN NORTHCAROLINA... AND THATHELPED HIM GETTHROUGH THE TOUGHDAYS.YOU JUST KINDA MAKETHE BEST --- REALLYDIDN'T HAVE MUCH ACHOICEFOR EXAMPLE, HE USEDRIFLE PATCHES ASMAKESHIFT EARPLUGSWHEN FIRING HEAVYWEAPONRY.WELL, WE'D JUST TAKEA LITTLE RIFLEPATCH---- AS WE HAVENOW, BUT IT HELPEDSLOAN RECALLS HOWTHE NORTH KOREANSALSO LAUNCHED APROPAGANDA WAR...DROPPING LEAFLETSTRYING TO ENTICE THEAMERICANS TOSURRENDER.THIS IS YOUR FREEPASS TO SURRENDER...WE DIDN'T HAVE VERYMANY TAKERS ON THATSOME OF THE BIGGESTDANGERS ON THEFRONT LINES WERESHRAPNEL AND SHELLFRAGMENTS LIKE THIS,FROM INCOMINGENEMY ROUNDS. ONEOF THEM FOUNDSLOAN. THE HEADLINEIN THE LOCAL PAPERSBACK IN WINSTON-SALEM... "CORPORALSLOAN IS WOUNDED".I HAD AN AIRBURSTCAME IN AND I GOT APIECE OF SHELLFRAGMENT IN LEG ONTHERE.THEY BANDAGED HIMUP AT A MASH UNIT ANDLEFT THE METAL INTHERE, WHERE ITREMAINS TODAY.. HEWAS AWARDED APURPLE HEART.. ANDSOON AFTER, HIS 20MONTHS OF ACTIVEDUTY WAS OVER. HE'DSERVED HIS COUNTRYWITH HONOR, AND HE'DSURVIVED.YOU KNOW, YOU HADTO DO EVERYTHING,TRY TO DO IT RIGHT,AND GET BACK HOMEAND I HAVE BOBSLOAN'S PURPLEHEART RIGHT HERE...YOU EARNED IT...

Korea: WXII 12 Remembers Bob Sloan

All this month, WXII 12 News is paying tribute to our veterans of the Korean War. Cameron Kent profiles the like of one man who put away his college textbooks and picked up an army manual.